Check out the new video on the Hummingbird Butterfly Rain garden from summer 2023! Just click the arrow to watch.
For more info, see the Washtenaw County Water Resources rain gardens page.
Background and History
The Thurston Nature Center Hummingbird/Butterfly/Rain Garden was significantly extended in spring and summer of 2020, based on a design by Cathleen Adams. The garden is located at the south part of the Thurston Nature Center (near the amphitheater overlooking Thurston Pond). It is at the north end of the Thurston School playground.
The expanded garden adds beauty while solving the standing water in the transitional zone between existing Butterfly Hummingbird Rain Gardens’ trellis area and TNC woodland. It features over 20 different native plants.
See the grant application (with diagrams and photos) and award.
Recognition and gratitude to the community members listed below who help bring this new site into fruition. These thank you’s are presented chronologically.
Washtenaw Conservation Stewards Program
The Thurston Nature Center New Rain Garden Extension was the Capstone Project of Cathleen Adams in the Fall 2019, to complete Certification of the Washtenaw County Conservation Stewards Program. Many thanks to the encouragement and teaching from the MSU Extensions Instructors.
Thank you
- Bindu Bhakta
- Katie Carlisle
- Jason Frenzel
- and Cathleen Adams’s capstone mentor Catherine Wytychak
Also including Program Partners:
- Washtenaw County Parks and Recreation Commission Washtenaw County Water Resources Commissioner
- Huron River Watershed Council City of Ann Arbor Natural Areas Preservation
- Michigan Nature Association
- Washtenaw Conservation District
Winter 2019-2020
From the Capstone Project completed at only a small size of 176 sq. feet initially, with revision and input, and encouragement, this Thurston Nature Center Rain Garden design was re- envisioned and grew approximately 7 times the original size, site plan and plant list revisions, redrafted by C. Adams with input and review
Thank you
- Sandy Breck
- Susan Bryan
- Catherine Wytychak
March-April 2020
Official Presentation of the Rain Garden Design Plan to Thurston Nature Center Committee; Preparation and submission for Grant to Washtenaw County Clean Streams Initiative.
Thank you
- Cathleen Adams
- Sandy Breck
- Catherine Wytychak
- Thurston Nature Center and all community members involved in meeting
March-June 2020
- Wildtype of Mason Michigan agreed to grow our plants and tend them well until delivery. Special Gratitude to the owner Bill and his associate Gina for care and arrangements.
Thank you
- Wildtype of Mason Michigan
- Thurston Nature Center Community
June 6, 2020
Sod-cutter, arrangement & funds- the Brecks (staying within grant budget). Intense 4-hour and 4-person team-work to remove all sod! And place in rolls.
Thank you:
- Cathleen Adams
- Jim Breck
- Sandy Breck
- Michael Tucker
June 7, 2020
Wildtype Nursery delivered to Thurston Nature Center, and these planting flats were in the foster care homes of three people in the community from the time of delivery, through heat wave till planting out days later.
Thank you:
- Holly Zechar-Thurston Nature Center fund meeting with Allen of Wildtype
- Cathleen Adams Home,
- Sandy Breck Home
- Smita Malpani Home
June 8, 2020
Choosing store availability to stay within budget, paying for soil, and delivering to TNC (what her car would hold)
Thank you:
- Cathleen Adams
Organizing Pick up of remaining purchase. Picking up soil at store & dropping where the team [see list below] to unload waited ready to go
Thank you:
- Elizabeth Morehead
- Gary
Spreading 58 bags of soil, creating berm/walking path on edge of garden, creating photos
Thank you:
- Cathleen Adams
- Jim Breck
- Sandy Breck
- Emily Eisbruch
- Brendan H.
- Gerry H.
- Mary M.
- Lochlan M.
- Sonora M.
- Praveena Ramaswami
- Amy S.
- Darrell S.
- Elisa S.
- Emmy S.
- Lydia S.
June 11, 2020
Meeting to determine next steps
- Cathleen Adams
- Sandy Breck
June 12, 2020
Choosing store availability of mulch to stay within budget, paying for soil, and delivering to Thurston Nature Center.
Thank you:
- Cathleen Adams
- Judy Adams
Unloading mulch, planting in, adding mulch, and intensive labor in hauling water
- Cathleen Adams
- Jim Breck
- Sandy Breck
- Christopher Briggs
- Hannah Briggs
- Tracy Briggs
- Betsy Foote
- Jane Lumm
- Margaret
- Marie Kilbane
- Michelle
- Pam O’Neal
- Holly Zechar
- Wesley Zechar
June 13, 2020 and beyond
Choosing store availability of mulch to stay within budget, paying for soil, and delivering to Thurston Nature Center
Thank you:
- Cathleen Adams
- Judy Adams
Unloading mulch, planting, intensive labor in hauling water, purchasing hose, sign-up creation, watering, weeding, mulching and maintaining from June until the end of summer 2020.
Thank you:
- Cathleen Adams
- Rosalyn Barclay
- Jim Breck
- Sandy Breck
- Emily Eisbruch
- Avi Eisbruch
- Rob King
- Brett J.
- Hana Lee Hughes
- Howard Hughes
- Ryan Poe
- Kelly Poe
- Praveena Ramaswami
- Madhan Ramaswami
- Meera Ramaswami
- Leela Ramaswami
- Linh Song
- Jaegun Song
- Quynh Song
- Camellia Sakamoto
- Gerry Hish
- Brendan Hish
- Hish Family
- Pam O’Neal
- Smita Malpani
- Elizabeth Morehead
- Praveena Ramaswami
- Priebe Family
- Linic Family
- Jennifer Lutz
- Prociuk Family
- Erich & Holly Zechar
- Chris Nordstrom
- Melissa Grzesiak
- Ennalyse Fretz
- Lynn Olson
- Jane Lumm
- Amy, Darrell, Lydia Sonntag
- Colin Brooks
- Nilesh and Dhruv Mankame
- Phil and Kyle Davey
- Thurston Nature Center Community
Note: Others may have helped whom we left out. Apologies! Please email communications@thurstonnaturecenter.info to get your name added.
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May 2023, the garden is thriving!